Tuesday, August 25, 2020

A View From The Bridge By Arthur Miller Essays -

A View From The Bridge By Arthur Miller Subsequent to perusing Arthur Miller's play A view from the scaffold, I am persuaded that the most striking character is Marco. He is an Italian outsider that moved unlawfully to the United States with his sibling Rodolpho to fill in as longshoremen, since at that point (the play was written in 1955) his nation of source, Italy, was experiencing a significant financial downturn due to the result of World War II. In the play, we are informed that's Marco will likely bring in enough cash to endure and have the option to send a portion of that cash to his better half and his three children back in Italy, who are starving. Marco genuinely takes after the Sicilian generalization, with brown complexion and dull hair. He is additionally solid and he could without much of a stretch burden the entire boat by himself.(pg.541) In this play, the creator utilizes plot, discourse, activities and imagery to underline Marco's respect which, as I would see it, is his unmistakable trademark. All through the play, we can obviously observe that the plot causes us build up Marco's character in our creative mind. For instance, he is an expatriate, and this may give the peruser a less decent perspective on him, and it may legitimize Eddie's activity. In any case, the way that Marco left his family to give them support and to spare his most established child who is wiped out in the chest, (pg. 535) causes the peruser to disregard his illicit remain and makes his status ascend to the one of a legend. In this play, Marco's activities lead us to the revelation of a savage side which he uses to guard his respect in various events. For instance, when he challenges Eddie to lift the seat toward the finish of the main demonstration, we comprehend that he did it to spare his sibling's face and his family's respect. Moreover, the slaughtering of Eddie by Marco's own hands toward the finish of the play, is the last presentation of his character. Marco's character is certainly communicated more by his activities than by his words. He is solid, and he is clearly mindful of that, yet doesn't care to show it in words, or gloat about it. Indeed, when Eddie was ridiculing his sibling Rodolpho, rather than answering to him in words, he decided to utilize his strenght to express what is on his mind by lifting the seat. Likewise, Marco doesn't discuss his family much; rather, he functions as hard as possible, and that is sufficient to show everyone the amount he thinks about them. As a last affron t to Eddie, Marco decides to spit in his face before everyone. This is on the grounds that in the Italian culture, that demonstration is considered as an outrageous articulation of outrage toward an individual, and it is once in a while left without discipline. What's more, the activity of setting off to the congregation before confronting Eddie gives us that he is strict and thinks about his spirit. Marco is an entirely respectable man and has faith in his custom, and the creator gives us that through various images. For instance, spitting all over once he understands that Eddie turned him and his sibling to the police is an image of nauseate and revolt for Eddie's activities. What's more, toward the finish of the play, we are informed that Marco went to chapel before going to converse with Eddie. This activity discloses to us that Marco is prepared to surrender his life and submit a human sin to shield his respect, since what Eddie has done, the breaking of the omerta', the breaking of trust, is something that in his way of life should never be left unpunished. All through the principal demonstration of the play, Marco is just alluded as a level character and the main time we are extremely mindful his persona and his quality is toward the finish of the primary demonstration, when he lifts a seat over his head and causes it to appear to be a test to Eddie, as a reaction for ridiculing Rodolpho. In any case, just in the second demonstration his character is completely uncovered and we see his picture change into a round character. In this

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Their Eyes Were Watching God Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Their Eyes Were Watching God Persuasive Essay How is love to impact our lives? Love-struck individuals do insane things toexpress how they care for that specific individual yet it is a long and breezy roadto these activities. It is down this way that experience brings forth and inconvenience andhappiness are felt. Janie Crawford of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes WereWatching God, shows the street through the means of her three connections. Theserelationships, however not satisfying ones, close in bettering Janiessearch and comprehension of life. Johnny Taylor, Janies first kiss andgatekeeper to her future, When Janie was sixteen, she set out on a sexualawakening. Johnny Taylor was a poor youngster who lived in the Florida region. We will compose a custom exposition on Their Eyes Were Watching God Persuasive explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now Janie permitted him to kiss her over the fence. Lamentably, Nanny saweverything. With Nannys terrible foundation of corrupt deeds done to her,she needed the best for Janie. As she saw the kiss, the entryways of life opened forJanie and Nanny wasnt going to have her commit similar errors that she had. However, Nanny had been impregnated the situation being what it is of being a slave andthis was not the situation for Janie. Caretaker expressed that dark ladies were the mulesof the world, yet she didnt need Janie to be a donkey. She needed to see Janiein a protected circumstance before she passed on, and Logan Killicks could give that. Janie would not like to wed Logan, however she did so in light of the fact that Nanny advised her thatshe would in the long run come to cherish him. Unexpectedly, Logan needed to forceJanie into the subjugation that Nanny dreaded. Likewise, he was frustrated that Janienever restored his warmth and fascination. In the event that he was unable to have her throughlove, he would have her by requesting her accommodation. On the most fundamental level, his actionsarose from the dread that Janie would leave him. Two months after her marriage toLogan, Janie visited Nanny to ask when she would begin adoring him. Babysitter beratedJanie for not acknowledging Logans riches. Despite the fact that Logan spoiled Janie for ayear, he started whining that she was ruined. That night, Logan criticizedJanie for being ruined and apathetic. Janie voiced his most profound feelings of trepidation when shesuggested that she may leave him. Logan helped her to remember her familysreputation, planning to offend her. Going to these exceptional of measuresblew Janie into a craze and she left with a smooth-talking courteous fellow that verynext day. Janie decided to leave Logan for Jody since he resuscitated her fantasies oflove in marriage. Her first marriage had instructed her that marriage and love donot go connected at the hip. Be that as it may, she despite everything accepted that adoration was the bestmotivation for marriage. Jody guaranteed that he could never transform Janie into acommon pack donkey. He guaranteed her that she would receive all the rewards of hiswork. His words shockingly reverberation Nannys dream of decency and financialsecurity for Janie. Nonetheless, Janie didnt wed Jody as a result of these guarantees. She wedded him since he propelled the emotions she had encountered whilesitting under the blooming peach tree when she was sixteen and the second herwomanhood got completely clear. Amusingly, Janies union with Jody was thevery exemplification of Nannys dreams for her. In contrast to Logan, he didn't make her apack donkey. He gave her money related security and decency. Be that as it may, themarriage was to a great extent a troubled association. Janie couldn't act naturally around Jody. Besides, Jody despite everything utilized Janie as a trash despite the fact that he gave her riches andrespectability. So it appears that Nannys most exceedingly awful feelings of trepidation and her most noteworthy expectations wererealized in Janies second marriage. It was until one evening in the storethat she met an elevated at this point attractive youngster who went, for some odd reason, by thename of Tea Cake. Tea Cakes romance was not quite the same as that of Logan andJody. Janies first marriage was to a greater degree an agreement of offer between Nanny andLogan than all else. Janies second marriage was a break from the firstone. Besides, it depended on frustrated dreams. Jody pursued her by talkingabout himself and his fantasies. Tea Cake, then again, sought after Janie with love sentimental style. Likewise, he permitted her equivalent balance in arranging the termsof their relationship. Increasing individual flexibility was a two-crease process. First,she must be free in her private life, however she additionally needed to free herself fromrestricting social perspectives. At exactly that point would she be able to start to mend the break betweenher outside self and her inside self. She feels that what she has realized fromher relationship with Tea Cake can't be passed on through words. .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .postImageUrl , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .focused content territory { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:hover , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:visited , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:active { border:0!important; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; darkness: 1; change: haziness 250ms; webkit-progress: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:active , .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:hover { obscurity: 1; change: murkiness 250ms; webkit-progress: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relati ve; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content enrichment: underline; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; text style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; outskirt span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: striking; line-tallness: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; content adjust: focus; content improvement: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/basic arrow.png)no-rehash; position: total; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b8 82290ce1cd98c0fc9f .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u0e8deeaab4a5b882290ce1cd98c0fc9f:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: My Childhood EssaySelf-acknowledgment is an individual excursion that must be made through gaininglife experience. Hence, Janie recognizes the blemishes innate in retellingher life, however she doesn't really undermine the significance of having foundher voice. Neither does she undercut the advantage of sharing her story withothers. She doesnt accept that her story ought to be simply the single, authoritativeguidebook acknowledgment. It can, nonetheless, rouse others to reexaminetheir lives. Book Reports

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Retirement Planning How to Plan for a Successful Retirement

Retirement Planning How to Plan for a Successful Retirement Quick Links: 7 Retirement Myths Debunked · Online Investment Tools · 6 Saving Strategies · 5 Investments to Avoid · 3 Tips to Get Started Youth is wasted on the young. Often, money  is, too. Back in my corporate days, when I managed scores of retail stores and hundreds of employees, I stressed the importance of planning for retirementâ€"as well as saving for future goalsâ€"with every person I hired. Before the start of their very first shift, I would sit down with each new team member and show them how to save for retirement without stress, worry, complexity, or pain. Within a few minutes, I could literally see the difference in their physiology as trepidation drained from their facial features and, after we spent 30 minutes examining their options, confidence began to take over once they realized planning for retirement is much simpler than they thought. Most of these employees hadnt given much thought to saving for the future: maybe theyd heard their parents or spouses maunder about stocks and bonds and mutual funds, but they hadnt considered which  path to take because planning for the future, especially with respect to finances, is overwhelming, daunting, boring. There are so many options, so many so-called experts, so many ways to screw things up. So, like many of Americans, they stood stuck in analytical paralysis, opting instead to postpone the decision for another time in some nonexistent hypothetical future. You know, one day. One day: these two words are dangerous because they give us an excuse to shelve important decisions that radically influence our future. Waiting for one day to arrive doesnt solve the problemâ€"it makes it worse. Each day we wait, the worse it gets. Just as with my employee orientations of yesteryear, I want this essay to serve as an inspirational and informative sit-down in which I clear the fog of decision-making and help you, the reader, make an informed decision based on what Ive done with my own financial future. I truly believe that after reading this step-by-step process, you can plan for retirement in less than an hour. Using screenshots and my personal finances as a concrete example, I provide the necessary tools and a step-by-step strategy for you to quickly understand how easy it is to begin saving for retirement, regardless of where you stand on the socioeconomic ladder. Not only  retirement, thoughâ€"I also want to help you save for other future objectives: establish a Safety Net emergency fund, build wealth with smart investments, and own your house outright, if thats a dream of yours. And most importantâ€"I want it to be simple,  because I know, based on years of experience, if I can make the complex concept of retirement planning simple, then you have a much better shot at getting started immediately. Ultimately, I hope to eliminate the fear of financial planning and help you realize its simpler than you think. 7 Retirement Myths Debunked Before I get to my examples, Ill allay your fears by addressing a few of the worries Ive heard throughout my years of helping others set up retirement accounts: Myth 1. Im too old to save for retirement. I frequently hired employees who were older than I wasâ€"often in their forties and fiftiesâ€"with no retirement-savings plan. Fear had long ago set in, and they figured it was too late. They were stuck; they had missed their opportunity. Not true. While its true that youre better off starting at age 25 than 50, it is also true youll be better off starting at age 50 than, say, 70. Then again, 70 is a better start than 90, isnt it? The past is the past. We must stop peering at the rearview and instead look ahead toward the horizon. As long as youre still breathing, its never too late to start. Its never too early, either. Myth 2. Im too young to save for retirement. Too young? Are you insane? If youre younger than 30, you have it made! Young people, no matter your tax bracket, have a significant opportunity to become truly wealthy thanks to the power of compound interest. Someone who invests $25,000 by age 25, with a 12% rate of return, will have more than $2 million by age 65â€"even if he or she doesnt add another dollar after age 25. Conversely, if that same person waits until age 30, he or she will have to contribute more than three times as much to achieve the same outcome. The lesson? Compound interest is the best way to grow your money over the long haulâ€"so start while youre young. To visually illustrate the difference between starting at age 25 vs. 35, check out this Business Insider graph: Myth 3. I dont make enough money to save for retirement. Actually, there is no reason you shouldnt retire a millionaire. Thats right: virtually everyone, even minimum-wage earners, has the opportunity to be a millionaire when they retire. It sounds too good to be true, but the math proves otherwise: a 25-year-old who sets aside only $23 per week will retire with more than a million dollars if the money is invested properly (12% rate of return). Okay, so maybe youre not 25 anymoreâ€"me, either! Thats all rightâ€"us older folks simply need to adjust accordingly. Betterment has an investment-and-retirement calculator to help you understand exactly how much money you need to save based on your age and financial objectives. Myth 4. Inflation will hurt my retirement nest egg. This is the only myth that is partially true; however, its truth is irrelevant. While it is true $100 dollars ten years from now will probably possess less buying power than $100 today, the flip side of that coin is also true, and considerably more important: your $100 ten years from now will be worth infinitely more than your friends $0 invested. In fact, solid investments are the only way to outpace inflation. It is better to invest your $100 than keep it in a bank or under your mattress. Myth 5. Id rather spend my money on something else. When intentions are good, this excuse occasionally sounds like the most compelling reason to avoid saving for the future. True, we sometimes cling selfishly to money, using our income to purchase superfluous trinkets of ostensible success (new cars, shiny  gadgets, accoutrements of consumerism), but frequently we want to use our money to contribute beyond ourselves (charities, nonprofits, and loved-ones in need). Contributing to others is certainly admirable, and I believe giving is living, so I want you contribute generously, but Ive found the best way to help others is to help yourself firstâ€"the best way to give generously is to have more to give. Investing in yourself first helps you flex your giving muscle. Theres a reason airlines tell you to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others: if its easier to breathe, its easier to help people in need. Myth 6. The stock market isnt safe. Translation: you dont understand the stock market. Thats okay: I dont completely understand the stock market, eitherâ€"not intimately anyway (I am not a financial advisor, nor do I play one on the Internet). The only people who must have an advanced understanding of the stock markets intricacies are stock brokers, day traders, and fund managers. Rather than allocating several hours a day to learn the nuances of mutual funds, index funds, and individual stocks, I choose to use an investing service that takes the guess work out of investing. It  is true any investment introduces risk into the equation, but long-term investing in the stock market has proven to be the best way to grow your retirement savings: over the last 25 years, including 2008s steep decline and subsequent Great Recession, the market has averaged a rate of return of nearly 11%. Even when you account for 1929s Great Depression, the market has averaged greater than 9% growth over the past 100 years (source: Morningstar). Investing in the market is the most stable good-growth investment one can make in the long-term, especially when using online tools that help you outperform the market, many of which are discussed in this essay. Myth 7. I dont have enough time or knowledge to manage my retirement savings. Its true you and I will likely never have as much financial wisdom as the experts, but thats precisely why we must seek out tools developed by trusted, reputable experts. Although Im usually a do-it-yourself kind of guy, I dont DIY my investment strategy; rather, I did my research and found online investment tools that allow me to control my money without being overly controlling. I dont want to constantly scrutinize my investmentsâ€"tweaking and reacting out of fear every time the market goes up or downâ€"but I dont want to fly blind, either. Rather than flying the plane myself, I put the best possible pilot in the cockpit. Online Investment Tools I manage the vast majority of my personal finances using  Betterments online software. Of course, Betterment isnt the only game in townâ€"there are plenty of viable options: Wealthfront, Vanguard, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and a slew of others. However, when comparing Betterment vs. Wealthfront vs. Vanguard vs. Fidelity vs. Schwab vs. a bunch of other reputable online brokers, there are a handful of important reasons, according to Betterment, to choose their service: Easy to use. Because I avoid complexity, I knew whichever online-investment firm I chose, it had to be easy to use. Reputation. Betterment is the largest online automated investment service for a reason. Their portfolio is designed to achieve optimal returns at every level of risk. Through diversification, automated rebalancing, better behavior, and lower fees, Betterment customers can expect 4.3% higher returns than a typical DIY investor. No-cost setup and low fees. I am not a millionaire (at least not yet), so I cant afford to waste money on setup costs and fees. Unlike many investment firms, Betterment does not charge to sign up for their service. That is correct: its absolutely free to establish a Betterment account. Better yet, their fees are the lowest around. I remember paying 300 basis points (3.00%) to my previous  local broker, but now I pay only 15 basis points (0.15%). No, thats not a typo: fees are often 20 times lower with Betterment. This is especially relevant considering the power of compound interest. By not charging for trades or transactions, Betterment manages  their customers portfolios for far less than it would cost at even a discount brokerage; plus, their fees only get lower as your assets grow. Not only for retirement. As youll see in the following Savings Strategy section, not only do I use Betterment for my retirement planning, but I also use it to house separate accounts for my personal Safety Net, Wealth Building, and House Fund. By deferring a little money from my checking account to my Betterment account each month, I keep myself safe from spending temptations. Because my money is invested appropriately, it  grows more than it would were it sitting in checking or savings accounts. Vanguard index funds. Vanguard, a company well-known for its integrity, has been the best place to invest in high-yield index funds for nearly 40 years. What are index funds? Index funds aim to replicate the movements of an index of a specific financial market (for example, the SP 500 is a popular index), so its like investing your money in an entire index, as opposed to mutual funds, which pool money from many investors to purchase a limited number of stocks. While there is a slightly higher potential upside for mutual-fund investments, I prefer index funds because of their considerably lower fees, relative stability, and reliability. I have used Vanguard for both personal and business investments in the past, and thats one of the primary reasons I chose Betterment: Betterment is essentially a well-built storefront for Vanguard, which I trust. So, with Betterment, I get the best of Vanguard plus at least three additional Betterment benefits: Automatic  Portfolio  Rebalancing. Remember that 90s  cookware infomercial: Set it and forget it!? Well, I have very little desire to learn the mechanics of portfolio rebalancing and dividend reinvesting, but with Betterment, everything is automatedâ€"even deposits, if youd like. Once I established my Betterment account, I was able to effectively set it and forget it. Sure, I still check in quarterly to take a peek at my financial growthâ€"which is pretty cool because their web-based interface is beautifulâ€"but I know the best strategy, once everything is set up, is to let the money grow and grow and grow without fooling with it. Tax-loss harvesting.  Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of selling a security that has experienced a loss. By realizingâ€"or harvestingâ€"a loss, investors are able to offset taxes on both gains and income. The sold security is then replaced by a similar one, maintaining the optimal asset allocation and expected returns. Basically, Betterment systematically finds embedded capital losses to lower investment taxes and increase after-tax returnsâ€"and they do this for free. (Note: I logged into my account today and saw Ive had $57.89 in losses harvested in the first three months of this year.) Beautiful interface. See Easy to use above. Betterments website takes all the clunkiness out of old-time paper-trail investing. 60-second  rollovers. Rolling over a 401(k) from a former employer can help you take control of your retirementâ€"thats what I did with my old Fidelity 401(k) account: I rolled it into a Traditional IRA. Betterment offers rollovers that take less than a week on average, and they have rollover concierge available to assist you every step of the way, which made my rollover simple. (You can rollover other accounts, too: 403(b), 457(b), Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and other similar retirement accounts.) RetireGuide. Betterments optional RetireGuide feature will make recommendations for your non-Betterment 401(k) and taxable accounts, as well as recommend what kind of IRAs you should fund. You can even look at scenarios comparing whether or not social security will exist in the future, since that is a major concern for many folks (myself included). This free feature even  shows what kind of income you can withdraw during retirement. Diversity. Betterment uses years of investment research to construct a globally diversified, passive portfolio based on Modern Portfolio Theory. Their customers own exchange-traded funds (ETFs) representing up to 12 asset classes. In plain English: diversification is the key to properly managing your wealth through market upswings and downturnsâ€"Betterment provides this diversity. Free resources. For the casual investor like myself (read: non-expert), I appreciate the plethora of financial advice Betterment regularly doles out. Once I became a customer, they began sending me occasional email reminders and advice about my finances (no spam, everâ€"only helpful advice). It is the first time I can remember enjoying reading about financesâ€"because they made it easily digestible and applicable to my personal situation. Todays technology is making investing easier, safer, and simpler than ever. You used to have to hire a local broker and hope he or she had your best interests in mind. While theres nothing inherently wrong with a local-broker approach (there are many wonderful brokers out thereâ€"Ive dealt with several), Ive found that I feel more informed, more confident, more focused, and more secure with the advanced tools being made available online in todays  investment industry; plus, Im grateful to pay considerably lower fees, which helps my money grow more quickly (remember the power of compound interest). To be as transparent as possible, not only am I sharing my financial information in this article (including screenshots below), but its worth noting that The Minimalists used to be an affiliate partner for Betterment, but we opted out of that program recently because it restricted our personal ability to freely invest our money. That said, I still use Betterment to manage my money. Even though Ryan I dont have an affiliate relationship with Betterment, which means we dont receive anything for recommending their service, their firm is the place I trust most to manage my investments. If that  ever changes, Ill update my viewpoint here at TheMinimalists. 6 Tactics: JFMs Savings Strategy The best way for me to help you save for the future is to show you my recipe, that is, how I manage my own finances step by step: this way you can follow the entire recipe or select ingredients that work best for you. Strategy Overview: Of the six  tactics listed below, I use Betterment to manage the first four: Safety Net, Traditional IRA, Build Wealth, and House Fund. Here is a screenshot overview of my Betterment account five  weeks into the calendar year 2015: Now, looking at only the numbers, its easy for me to say, Wow! That guys loaded! Wellâ€"not exactly. First, if I were to retire today, $176k wouldnt be enough money because, ideally, one wants to have enough saved to live off the interest, pay taxes, and outpace inflation. Thus, if I wanted to bring home, say, $30,000 a year, Id need to have approximately $500,000 saved, earning 12% interest (2% for inflation, 4% for taxes, and the remaining 6%â€"$30,000â€"for income). And second, of course, Im not loaded. I dont view this money as my  money at all; instead, I look at it as an investment in my future self: it is my future selfs money. Im not allowed to touch it. Besides, it didnt happen overnight: Ive been investing for nearly a decade, slowly contributing a percentage of my income each month with unwavering conviction. Even when income has been low, Ive made sure to pay my(future)self first by investing in my retirement account and ensuring I have a Safety Net for emergencies. The following six tactics outline exactly how I save for the future and plan for retirement. (By the way, as Ryan and I discussed on our documentary, we certainly dont believe wealth directly correlates with a rich life; that doesnt mean having money is wrongâ€"its notâ€"it simply means money is not the primary driver for my life. But with the money I do earn, I want to invest responsibly.) Tactic 1. Safety Net.  Before planning for retirement, it is best to plan for emergencies.  Life happens, so we must create an initial Safety Net bucket containing $500â€"$1000, invested conservatively to avoid downturns in the market. Warning: do not touch this money unless there is a true emergency (e.g., car repairs, home repairs, job loss, medical bills, and other  real emergencies). In fact, this is why I keep my Safety Net in a Betterment bucket instead of in my checking or savings: by removing it from my regular bank account, Im less tempted to use that money unless its an actual emergency, plus I still have quick access to the money should I ever need it.  Over time, once you’re out of debt, your Safety Net will grow to include several months of expenses (after years of saving, my Safety Net now has a years worth of expenses and I no longer contribute to that bucket). But for now, worry only about the first $500â€"$1000 to start. Once youve built your initial Safety Net, yo u can begin piling cash into your Retirement Savings. Tactic 2. Retirement Savings (IRA). Of my four Betterment buckets, I use a Traditional IRA as my primary Retirement Savings bucket. As you can see from the screenshot below, the majority of my money is kept in a Traditional IRA, which is balanced aggressively toward stock-based index funds. As a Betterment customer, I can drill down to the individual index-fund level if I feel inclined to make adjustments to individual investments accordingly; although, in most cases, I allow Betterment to recommend the particular funds in which I should invest since they are the experts. Instead of a Traditional IRA, you  can also opt for a Roth IRA (or both if youd like). The main difference between these two types of IRAs is that Traditional IRAs contributions are pre-tax (thereby lowing your annual taxable income), while Roth IRAs contributions are after-tax (which makes them tax-free upon retirement, provided certain criteria are met). Both IRA options are available through Betterment. I chose a Traditional IRA because I rolled-over a large 401(k) from my previous employer. (Note: well address 401(k)s, SEP-IRAs, and other similar employer-based retirement accounts in Tactic 5.) Tactic 3. Build Wealth. Because the U.S. government allows people to contribute only up to a certain amount to an IRA each year, I deposit any additional retirement savings into a Build Wealth bucket, which is set with the same aggressive-growth configuration as my Traditional IRA, although the money in this bucket is invested post-tax; thus, you need only establish a Build Wealth bucket  if youve first maxed out your tax-advantaged IRA contributions. (Once you have a Betterment account, establishing new bucketsâ€"Build Wealth, Safety Net, etc.â€"is easy: just a few clicks and you have a new bucket.) Tactic 4. House Fund. One might say Im debt adverseâ€"but that is an understatement. I hate debt! From my viewpoint, after experiencing crippling debt for over a decade, there is no such thing as good debt. Sure, some debt, such as a mortgage, is better than other debts, such as, say, a creepy payday lenderâ€"but just because it is sometimes tolerable, debt is never a good thing. Hence, although Ive been a homeowner before (well, technically the bank owned the home and I paid the mortgage), I currently rent an apartment and save additional money into my House Fund bucket, which is adjusted more conservatively than my Retirement Savings and Build Wealth buckets because the House Fund bucket is ideally a shorter-term investment (fewer than five years). For some people, this bucket is a great way to amass a reasonable downpayment on a home (a 20% or greater downpayment allows the borrower to avoid pricey Private Mortgage Insurance). For me, however, this fund is there so when I decide t o finally purchase another house, I will do so in cash. As you can see, I have a long way to go, but I know it will be worth it. Tactic 5. Employer Contributions. If your employer offers an employer-matching, tax-qualified, defined-contribution pension account, such as a 401(k) (or 403(b) or 457(b) if you work for a nonprofit or government entity, respectively), then it is best to contribute to your 401(k) up to the employers matching amount. For example, if your employer matches your contributions up to 3%, then I encourage you to contribute 3% of your income because youre effectively doubling your investment immediately (if your employer doesnt match, however, then I would avoid an employer-based retirement account because there are better, more flexible options available). After the match, however, I recommend using an investment service like Betterment, or any of the others Ive mentioned, because they give considerably more flexibility, control, and guidance, and thus a greater return on your investment compared to most 401(k) plans, which are usually terribly limited. Personally, because my company is a s mall business (an LLC partnership with only a few employees), we established an SEP-IRA through Vanguardâ€"our company went to Vanguard directly because Betterment allows only individual accounts (no business accounts). Much like a 401(k), SEP-IRAs are often adopted by small business owners to provide retirement benefits similar to a pension plan for the business owners and their employees. Tactic 6. Contributing to Others. Having personal wealth is a great ideaâ€"but only if we are prepared to be responsible with our resources; otherwise, money can become a burden because money wont, as the cliche goes, buy us happiness. Sure, it will purchase myriad comforts, but comfort and happiness arent necessarily synonymous (in fact, comfort often keeps us from true happiness). Although The Minimalists had a breakthrough year last year (a bestselling book, a 100-city tour, etc.), Ryan and I decided to pay ourselves considerably less money than our business generated, opting instead to invest in other people and causes. We could do this contently only after ensuring our own financial house was in order, which enabled us to save more than 20% of our personal incomes while still contributing a considerable amountâ€"well over 20% of our business revenueâ€"to others. Giving is living: lets build wealth so we can give more and live more. 5 Investments to Avoid Whether you use my tactics or not, Id be remiss if I didnt warn you about the investments I avoid. Cash-value life insurance. Cash-value plans, such as whole-life or universal-life, are horrible investments. Life insurance should not be treated as an investmentâ€"it must be treated as what it is: insurance! If you have dependents, then yes, you need life insurance (unless you are wealthy enough to self-insure), and your best bet is always term-life insurance. Additional reading: The Truth About Life Insurance. Individual stocks. Unless you are an expert day trader, individual stocks pose too much risk to the average investor. Even if your employer offers a special rate for their stock, I wouldnt invest my money into any single stock, not even reputable stocks like Apple or Google: its simply too high-risk for my taste. I want my money to grow over time, preferring to get rich slowly over get rich quick, the latter of which usually leads to a perilous outcome. Gold, silver, and precious metals. Like individual stocks, these metals are too fraught with risk when compared to index funds. Even worse, gold and silver are  commoditiesâ€"commodity prices are often manipulated by speculation rather than supply and demand. Additional reading: The Gold Market Is Losing Its Glitter. Annuities. Variable annuitiesâ€"or any annuity for that matterâ€"are generally not a good investment, especially since there are so many other great investment options available. More often than not, annuities are rife with fees and penalties and surrender periods, not to mention low rates of return. Yuck! Low-interest-yielding investments. If youre investing for greater than five years, then low-interest-yielding investments, such as CDs, savings accounts, individual bonds, and the like, are poor investments because the interest earned usually doesnt outpace inflation. These are great options, however, if youre saving for less than twelve months because they reduce your overall risk. Invest in Yourself: 3 Tips to Get Started By this point, you should have some financial clarity and a noggin full of good ideasâ€"so dont leave the scene of a good idea without taking action! You need momentum if you want to keep going. Here are three next steps to get you on the right path todayâ€"not one day, not next Fridayâ€"but today. Investment account. Using Betterment or another online broker, set up an account today. Even if you dont have a single dollar to commit until next week or next month, thats okay. Establishing a free account is a proper first step. Start small and automate. Beginning with your next payday, automate regular deposits directly from your checking account. Start small: you wont notice a 2% pay cut. Every month or so, increase your contribution by 1%. Within a year, youll slowly ratchet up to nearly 15% of your pay, which is a great place to be. I employed this strategy in my life, slowly increasing my percentage 1% at a time, and I now save at least 20% of my income (often considerably more than 20% by making additional deposits whenever I run into additional money). Build your Safety Net first, and then start investing into your Retirement Savings bucket as soon as you have at least $500 in your Safety Net bucket. Public accountability. Once you have an investment account established, and have started contributing to it (no matter how little), share your newfound vigor with the world around you: tell a loved one, family member, or trusted coworker (someone who will congratulate you rather than judge you). If you like, you can share this article on social media or with coworkers to spark a discussion in your immediate circles. Discussing your financial objectives with other people helps you keep yourself on track. Conclusion: Best Financial Advice There is no single best way to plan for your financial future; rather, there is an entire landscape riddled with peaks and valleys you must navigate. It is my desire this how-to guide acts not as advice (which its not), but as a roadmap to help you on your journey toward a financially secure future. If you walk away from this essay with only one takeaway, I hope its this: start today. Dont let your crastination turn pro. Whether you use Betterment, Wealthfront, or your own personal broker to manage your money, the most important thing to do is get started. According to the ASPPA, the largest indicator of retiring with wealth is not your financial philosophy; its not your suit-n-tie, slick-talking broker; its not even your rate of returnâ€"the primary indicator of having money when you retire is your savings rate. Thats right: putting money awayâ€"starting todayâ€"is the best route to financial freedom during retirement. While I am not a financial advisor, it is my aspiration the financial tools and strategies shared in this article will give you the push you need to get started and feel confident in your financial future. I wish you way more than luck. Additional Reading Betterments Online Investment Tool 5 Difficult Steps Toward Financial Freedom 11 Signs You Might Be Broke 4 Thoughts About Planning for Death You May Also Enjoy How to Start a Successful Blog Today Learn how to start a blog in less than an hour. Follow the step-by-step instructions we used when starting our blog, which now has reached more than 20 million people. Creating this blog is one of the best decisions Ryan and I ever made. After all, our blog is how we earn a living. More important, it's how we add value to other people's lives. Read more 30-Day Minimalism Game Let's play a simple game together. We call it the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Find a friend, family member, or coworker who's willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. Read more 11 Ways to Write Better We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, emails, Instagram captions, or text messages, you are a writer. No matter your preferred medium, here are a few tips to help you write more effectively. Read more Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Conventional Wisdom Dictates That Improving Agricultural...

Conventional wisdom dictates that improving agricultural productivity, either through irrigation projects or the introduction of genetically modified crops, is the key step in ending rural poverty in sub-Saharan poverty. Our research overturns this assumption. By using a global poverty map and standard soil productivity measures, we find that the regions in sub-Saharan Africa with better soil quality actually experience higher rates of poverty. Our dataset consisted of 5334 subnational units from 46 sub-Saharan African countries. For soil quality, we used a seven-dimension indicator published by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis as part of the Harmonized World Soil Database, as well as the index of soil production by the FAO. As a measure of poverty, we used the Global Poverty Map, derived from satellite data and published by the National Geophysical Data Center. The large negative correlation between soil quality and district-level poverty remained even when c ontrolling for many of the possible determinate of poverty, using fixed effects at the country and regional level, and performing a number of robustness checks. To explain this counterintuitive result, we examined the relationship between transportation infrastructure, soil quality, and poverty. We found that the positive relationship between poverty and soil quality only exists in areas with insufficient infrastructure, and that poverty is at its worst when there is a combination ofShow MoreRelatedIndustrial Revolution 34013 Words   |  17 Pagesgasworks of the early 1800s were burning thousands of tons per year. The coal used in these gasworks was roasted and this resulted in coke as a waste product. This coke was then sold on to the ironworks. In the 1860s British engineers were still improving the steam engine. But there French and German counterparts were short of steam coal so they turned there attention to gas. A Frenchman ETIENE LENOIR made the first internal combustion engine. Contd After the first oil wells were sunk inRead MorePrinciples of Management: MCQ31501 Words   |  127 Pagesresearch. (False; moderate; p. 34) 20. Linear programming is a technique that managers use to improve resource allocation decisions. (True; moderate; p. 35) TOWARD UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 21. Concern for employee productivity is most closely associated with the organizational behavior approach. (False; moderate; p. 36) 22. Barnard, Follett, Munsterberg, and Owen are all theorists associated with the early organizational behavior approach. (True; moderate;Read MoreAn Impact Assessment of Science and Technology Policy on National Development of Nigeria61708 Words   |  247 Pagesdemands of office kept me away from home. They have been quite wonderful and a source of inspiration to me in realizing my vision of acquiring a Ph. D. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Let me start by thanking the Almighty God for blessing me with good health, wisdom and foresight to undertake this study and for providing me with good leaders, colleagues, friends and associates who offered me valuabl9e suggestions throughout the study. The past ten years have provided me with immense opportunities to deepenRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pagesthe value chain Conducting effective audits Summary 3 Segmental, productivity and ratio analysis 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 Learning objectives Introduction The clarification of cost categories Marketing cost analysis: aims and methods An illustration of segmental analysis An alternative approach to segmental analysis Customer profitability analysis Marketing experimentation The nature of productivity The use of ratios Analysing ratios and trends Ratios and interfirm comparison Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesfor OB 15 Responding to Economic Pressures 15 †¢ Responding to Globalization 16 †¢ Managing Workforce Diversity 18 †¢ Improving Customer Service 18 †¢ Improving People Skills 19 †¢ Stimulating Innovation and Change 20 †¢ Coping with â€Å"Temporariness† 20 †¢ Working in Networked Organizations 20 †¢ Helping Employees Balance Work–Life Confl icts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ OutcomesRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pagesadvertising in the press, or on TV, or radio, or on billboards? By using direct marketing mailshot? Through PR? On the Internet? When is the best time to promote? Is there seasonality in the market? Are there any wider environmental issues that suggest or dictate the timing of your market launch, or the timing of subsequent promotions? How do your competitors do their promotions? And how does that influence your choice of promotional activity? Limitations of the Marketing Mix Framework The marketing mixRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pageswhat every organization must have to survive The organization as simple machine Level 3: ‘Get the structure and systems right so that all is in balance’ Level 4: ‘The machine is alive! – well, almost’ How modernist organization theory underpins conventional understandings of the relationship between organizations and society Is bureaucracy immoral? Form fits function: how modernist organizational theory challenges the relationship between individuals, groups and the organization through bureaucracyRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pagesof the case. in the Australian ice-cream industry, the demographic analysis may have this comment: ‘A large baby boomer generation is now becoming more health-conscious. This presents opportunities in health foods and healthy alternatives for conventional foods. It also presents opportunities for low-fat ice creams.’ Or, in analysing the demographics of the Cochlearâ„ ¢ ï ¬ rm, you may conclude that there is a global market of 1.8 million profoundly deaf people and that this provides a huge undevelopedRead MoreMarketing Management 14th Edition Test Bank Kotler Test Bank173911 Words   |  696 PagesSegmentation C) Marketing research D) Channel E) New-product development Answer: D Page Ref: 27 Objective: 5 Difficulty: Moderate 79) A marketers only concern is how best to create demand for a new product produced by his company. Improving product design is not his responsibility. Answer: FALSE Page Ref: 4 Objective: 1 Difficulty: Easy 80) A short definition of marketing is meeting needs profitably. Answer: TRUE Page Ref: 5 Objective: 2 AACSB: Analytic skills Difficulty:

Saturday, May 9, 2020

The Insider Secret on Language B Extended Essay Topics Discovered

The Insider Secret on Language B Extended Essay Topics Discovered Things You Should Know About Language B Extended Essay Topics An elongated essay on applied chemistry is dependent upon the chemical content. A college student who's writing this kind of essay must possess in-depth knowledge on the topic of the essay as a high degree of research is necessary to compose the essay. You have to record your research in a manner that produces essay writing simpler for you. Your research ought to be organised so the transition from doing your research to writing your essay is straightforward. An essay is normally a prose literary style. You won't be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in a week and receive an A. You must be really sure of what you will achieve from your extended essay. A lengthy essay is one which you won't finish overnight. Moreover, a number of them are really moralistic, and can develop into the principal topic of your thesis. When you're crafting the protracted essay outline you should make certain that it not too broad or too specific so you can center on the crux of the issue. The main issue is all about creating a different page along with all the sources of quotes utilized in your extended essay. Whether there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it might be too narrow. You should select a discussion idea that's unique, and intriguing. For instance, you might find there are 3 sub-topics under the very first principal topic that you desire to discuss, which means you will create sub-headings for them. The list of ideas is provided below. Essays written at the degree of a newspaper or news magazine article are unlikely to attain a high mark. You have to come up with your question depending on your subject and the primary theme. Choice of topic It is necessary that the lengthy essay has an obvious chemical emphasis and is not more closely related to some other subject. Examine the list of the lengthy essay topics to choose the last title. In such situations, only the essential non-chemistry information should be offered in the debut, since the essay is going to be marked on its chemical content. So, it's always advisable to use the appropriate tools and lower the chance of workplace injury. Health and safety is the crucial factor for all of the industries to be able to encourage the wellness of both employees and employers. You desire some expert advice on selecting an ideal research area. Language B Extended Essay Topics - Dead or Alive? History essays cannot center on subjects that occurred in the last ten years that's simply not history. Then you may add your own notes. Examiners are almost always impressed. It's often best to choose those topics that you're passionate about. Language B Extended Essay Topics - What Is It? Therefore, if there's any reason why you cannot have your extended essay written on time yourself, all you have to do is place your order on our site, and leave the rest to us! The reader might want to occur to your reasonable summary dependent on all these arguments. You are not going to make the error of writing something in your essay that you believe you have thought of yourself, but is actually something you're remembering from a book word-for-word. There are some significant reasons for why it is preferable to type out sources word for word in your research as opposed to only take notes. A Secret Weapon for Language B Extended Essay Topics Good essay creating must be to have a comprehension of the amenities with the style. If you've found a wonderfu l concept, you should find something particular in it to acquire more specific and distinctive. One of the very first things you must understand in earning your topic choice is that there's a difference between history and current affairs. There aren't many moments in your writing process that may make a huge difference. Some schools will provide you with a timeline of when you must develop a topic, when you will need to meet up with your advisor and when certain drafts are due. All essays have to be supervised by means of a school supervisor. In the event the practical work is performed in an industrial or university laboratory, the essay needs to be accompanied by means of a letter from the external supervisor outlining the character of the supervision and the degree of guidance provided. Say, by way of example, you're a high school student, and you should compose a 3-page essay. Relevant chemical formulas (such as structural formulas), balanced equations (like state symb ols) and mechanisms ought to be included. You've got to narrow down the subject and select a region that you can readily address. The appropriate units for physical quantities always have to be given and the appropriate use of significant figures is expected. You don't have to remember all you have written, all of the important material is written down.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Cra and Financial Crisis Free Essays

string(39) " that supply was artificially lowered\." Table of Content Introduction2 Real-life examples2 Empirical cycle2 Other concepts of Babbie, Gravetter and Forzano applied2 Conclusion2 References2 Introduction The burst of the United States housing market bubble initiated the worldwide financial crisis. Amongst all housing regulations, the community reinvestment act (CRA) may be the most significant. The act passed in 1977 to improve low-income households’ housing opportunities. We will write a custom essay sample on Cra and Financial Crisis or any similar topic only for you Order Now As such, the act raised the incentives for banks to provide mortgages to low-income households (FFIEC, n. d. ). Over time, several political administrations, like the George H. W. Bush-, Clinton- and George W. Bush-administration, changed the original act, adapting to new challenges in the housing market (Braunstein, 2008). However, as time passed, the act became less important for banks, as the products, mortgages, became more profitable. As a result, more and more financial institutions started offering mortgages to low-income classes. These so called subprime mortgages are often associated with high risks (Aalbers, 2009). This point of view can be concluded with the hypothesis that the CRA will be seen as a cause of the financial crisis. Firstly, the different opinions and their respective arguments with regard to the hypothesis are illustrated. Secondly, an explanation is given on how these examples fit in the empirical cycle. Thirdly, three other concepts of Babbie, Gravetter and Forzano are applied to the examples. Finally, a conclusion is drawn with respect to the examples. Real-life examples As a result of the CRA, banks were rated, based on the number of loans given out to low-income households. A bad rating could have had severe consequences for a bank. The fact that the FED did not allow a Hartford, Connecticut bank to acquire a New Hampshire bank on CRA grounds demonstrates this. In order to keep their CRA ratings high, banks had to provide low-income classes with loans. In essence it can be said that the CRA ratings raised the banks’ incentives to provide low-income households with loans (Carney, 2009a). It can clearly be seen that the enforcement of the CRA over time led to a relaxation of lending standards and consequentially to more risk-taking in the banking sector in the form of mortgages. These high-risk mortgages are now seen as part of the problem. Thus, Carney (2009b) concludes, the CRA is part of the cause of the financial crisis. Carney agrees with the hypothesis. Defendants of the CRA simply claim that an act passed in 1977 cannot lead to the creation of a housing bubble in the early 21st century. Nevertheless, the CRA was not a static piece of legislation. The act evolved over the years, as it was mentioned earlier in the introduction. To be more specific, it was more and more enforced over the years. As a conclusion it can be said that the enforcement of the CRA might have been crucial in creating the housing bubble. Therefore the act could have created a housing bubble in the early 21st century (Carney, 2009a). However, Aalbers (2009) also argues in favor of the CRA and tries to falsify the hypothesis. He states that the majority of subprime loans in 2006 were provided by non-bank lenders. These non-bank lenders, however, were not subject to CRA regulations and thus were not obliged to provide affordable loans to low-income classes. The only logical conclusion that can be drawn from this information is that these loans to low-income classes were an attractive investment. Thus, Aalbers says, the CRA was not the cause of the high-risk mortgages providence to low-income households by banks. By clearly, Aalbers would reject the hypothesis that the CRA was a cause of the financial bubble. Nonetheless, his argumentation has to be questioned. In 1977 most of the loans and mortgages were provided by banks as well as savings and loan associations. The extra mortgages that were provided as a result of the CRA probably increased the demand for houses, which in turn resulted in an inflation of housing prices. Several years later, due to rising housing prices, subprime mortgages became a more attractive investment for financial institutions. Consequently, the majority of loans issued since the inception of the CRA came from nonbanks that deemed mortgages a good investment. In other words, the CRA created major lending opportunities for financial institutions (Kroszner, 2009). Since the CRA initiated the inflation of housing prices to some extent, it can be argued that the CRA can be hold partly responsible for the creation of the housing bubble. This theory should verify the hypothesis. This argumentation has to be investigated further. As Foote et al. ’s (2008) research concludes, housing price data in Massachusetts reveals that around 70% of all homes lost to foreclosure were actually purchased with prime mortgages. From that information Aalbers (2009) derives that most loans were not used for directly financing new homes, but rather refinancing existing loans. Hence, Aalbers insinuates that the extra mortgage lending as a result of the CRA did not cause a rise in housing prices. That information implies that the CRA was not a cause of the creation or inflation of the United States housing bubble. Clearly, this would reject the hypothesis. Nonetheless, Aalbers’ argumentation contains two pitfalls. First, his argumentation solely rests on inductive reasoning. Massachusetts is just one small part of the United States of America. Without any supportive data to back up the thesis that the Massachusetts housing market is representative of the whole nation’s housing market, it has to be concluded that Aalbers overgeneralizes the statistical data provided by Foote et al. As Babbie (2005) mentions, overgeneralization can lead to misdirection or rendering of inquiry. Due to this fact Aalbers’ argumentation is questionable. Second, even if the study of Foote et al. 2008) were representative, Aalbers failed to acknowledge the other side of the medal: The supply side, as it is not in favor of his opinion. If the CRA-related loans were used to refinance homes only, it would strongly affect the supply side of the housing market in the way that supply was artificially lowered. You read "Cra and Financial Crisis" in category "Papers" Homes were occupied that otherwise would not have been, driving up the prices of real estate. Aalbers falls victim to the fallacy of selective observation. He only looks at the effects of the CRA on the demand-side. Looking at the supply-side would not support his theory and point of view on the topic. That makes this observation a selective one. Empirical cycle This debate fits in the empirical cycle in the way that it started with an observation: The burst of the housing bubble. Consequentially different hypotheses and theories where formulated and tested by reasoning and correlation. As markets nowadays are very complex phenomena, it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between several factors of this system. In spite of that it is possible to use logical reasoning and correlation between these factors to hint at the correctness of a thesis. For example, it can be investigated how many subprime loans were CRA-related. A different question that can be posed is how these CRA-related subprime loans performed against other loans (Kroszner, 2009). The answers to these questions could give an idea of the causal relation between the CRA and the financial crisis. After testing the hypothesis, a new hypothesis and theory might be formulated until a conclusive theory is found. Nevertheless, Kroszner himself admitted the existence of a lack of data to get conclusive answers to the previously mentioned questions. For the empirical cycle, this lack of data means it is very hard to reject or not reject theses, obstructing the formulation of new theses and theories. Other concepts of Babbie, Gravetter and Forzano applied The empirical cycle is not the only concept of Babbie (2005), Gravetter and Forzano (2009) which can be applied to the examples. Another concept that can be applied apart from the empirical cycle is the concept of authority. Carney (2009a), who was mentioned earlier in this paper, started out as a strong defendant of the CRA. He did change his mind though, relying on, among others, the FED Governor Meyer. Since Carney used a quotation of Meyer, it can be concluded that Meyer is a person with authority and strong references in the field of economics. Babbie, Gravetter and Forzano define authority as a person with strong references in certain fields. Authority is used as a source for knowledge and can be referred to. Gravetter and Forzano (2009, p. 11) define rationalism as the search for â€Å"answers by the use of logical reasoning†. This is exactly what Carney (2009b) does to come to the conclusion that the CRA was a cause of the financial crisis. He reasons that the CRA raised the banks’ incentives to provide low-income households with mortgages. These financial products are now seen as a cause of the housing bubble, which caused the financial crisis. Therefore, Carney concludes, the CRA is a cause of the financial crisis. Theory is described by Babbie (2005, p. 12) â€Å"as a systematic explanation for the observations that relates to a particular aspect of life†. This implies that the argumentations used by Carney (2009a, b), Aalbers (2009) and Kroszner (2009) are parts of different theories as they explain how the CRA caused or did not cause a housing bubble. Conclusion As shown in this paper, there is a huge debate about whether the CRA was a cause of the financial crisis. As Carney (2009b) pointed out, the CRA raised the banks’ incentives to issue risky loans. Critics, however, state that an act passed in 1977 cannot create a housing bubble in the early 21st century. Nevertheless, the act was enforced several times, which implies that an enforcement of the CRA might have a causal relation with the financial crisis. Aalbers (2009) argues also in favor of the CRA: he points out that most subprime mortgages were provided by non-CRA-related institutions. Despite that fact, Kroszner (2009) says there is no reason to believe CRA is not to be blamed. He mentions that the inception of the act increased the demand for mortgages and consequentially, houses. According to Kroszner, this was the start of the housing bubbles. Aalbers on his turn argues that the vast majority of houses bought in Massachusetts was financed with prime mortgages. He concludes that this provides evidence in order for the CRA not be labeled a cause of the crisis. Nonetheless, Aalbers argumentation contains two fallacies. First, he uses inductive reasoning which results in overgeneralization without supportive data. Second, he uses selective observation by ignoring the supply-side of the market. This whole debate fits in the empirical cycle in a way that it started with an observation which was followed by many theses. After the formulation of these theses they were tested by logical reasoning and correlation. As a final step, new theses theories will be formulated. However, this step is obstructed heavily by a lack of data. Other concepts of Babbie (2005), Gravetter and Forzano (2009) can also be applied to the examples. Meyer has authority in Carney’s argumentation, logical reasoning is used by Carney to come to the conclusion that the CRA was a cause of the crisis and the argumentations used by Carney, Aalbers and Kroszner are all parts of theories, described by Babbie, Gravetter and Forzano. References Aalbers, M. (2009). Why the Community Reinvestment Act cannot be blamed for the subprime crisis. City amp; Community, 8 (3): 346-350. Babbie, E. (2005). The Basics of Social Research (3rd ed. ). Belmont: Thomson Wads worth. Braunstein, S. (2008). The Community Reinvestment Act, 13 February 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2010 from: http://www. federalreserve. gov/newsevents/testimony/braunstein20080213a. htm Carney, J. (2009a). Here’s how the Community Reinvestment Act led to the housing bubble’s lax lending, June 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 January, 2010 from ttp://www. businessinsider. com/the-cra-debate-a-users-guide-2009-6 Carney, J. (2009b). Sorry, folks, the CRA really did require crap lending standards, June 23, 2009. Retrieved 15 January, 2010 from http://www. businessinsider. com/sorry-folks-the-cra-really-did-require-crap-lending-standards-2009-6 FFIEC, (n. d. ). Community Reinvestment Act. Retrieved 20 January 2010 from: http://www. ffiec. gov/CRA/ Foote, C. , Gerardi, K. , Goette, L. amp; Willen, P. , (2008). Journal of Housing Economics, 17: 291-305. Retrieved 19 January 2010 from: http://www. sciencedirect. om/science? _ob=MImgamp;_imagekey=B6WJR-4TN0KW9-1-Namp;_cdi=6885amp;_user=499911amp;_orig=searchamp;_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2008amp;_sk=999829995amp;view=camp;wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkzkamp;md5=f93e4616adcb03662bac8ef89298dcdcamp;ie=/sdarticle. pdf Gravetter, F. amp; Forzano, L. (2009). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences (3rd ed. ). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Kroszner, R. (2009). The Community Reinvestment Act and the recent mortgage crisis. Retrieved 15 January, 2010 from http://www. frbsf. org/publications/community/cra/cra_recent_mortgage_crisis. pdf How to cite Cra and Financial Crisis, Papers

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

John C. Calhoun and The Problem With Southern Nationalism free essay sample

Calhoun, too much involvement from the government, and disagreements ever slavery created such disunion that the nation descended into utter chaos. The so-called Era of Good Feelings was, in fact, a misnomer not only was it not a time of good feelings, but it was actually a period of great disunion. Federal power had been expanding ever since George Washington was voted first President of the United States in 1789.Since then, the Whiskey Rebellion was quelled with force in 1 794, Jefferson had gone against the Constitution by buying the Louisiana territory in 1 803, and the judiciary branch extended its authority over the province of state courts, again educing the power of the states. (insert citation here) Tariffs issued by the federal government, too, had been expanding and angering the South starting back again in the year Washington stepped into office when the very first Tariff Act was passed. The Tariff Act of 1789 raised revenue through tariffs on imported goods. We will write a custom essay sample on John C. Calhoun and The Problem With Southern Nationalism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then, the Tariff of 1816, the United States tariff structure changed from revenue producing to protectionist. Following this, the Tariff of Abominations prompted angry southerners to protest, going as far as to publish a pamphlet called The South Carolina Exposition. This ample candidly suggested that the states nullify the tariff. Soon after, Congresss new Tariff of 1 832 rekindled the fire that was southern nationalism, taking another step along the road of the Nullification Crisis. More federal involvement came with the Force Bill, passed by Congress in 1833.Known among Carolinians as the Bloody Bill, this document authorized the president to use the army and navy, if necessary, to collect federal tariff duties. (insert citation here) Different opinions regarding the concept of slavery also aided in the widening of the gap between the north and south. The congressional debate on the Missouri compromise planted a seed of anxiety within the heart of southerners regarding possible federal involvement with slavery, as the southerners began to feel restrained by federal interference if the government could abolish slavery in the North, what was stopping them from abolishment in the South?Furthermore, an aborted slave rebellion in Charleston followed closely in 1822 led by a man named Denmark Vessel had souther ners on the edge of their seats, ready to be set off by the slightest interference by the federal government on their much needed slaves. Increasing southern nationalism, in addition to these causes was a catalyst leading to a civil war. Southerners united under their South Carolinian hero John C. Calhoun as nullifiers, or nullifies. These people were attempting to stop the overprotective tariffs, with the principle that the recent tariffs were unjust and unconstitutional.They also wore palmetto ribbons on their hats to mark their loyalty to the Palmetto State. Nationalism was so strong among the south that the delegates from South Carolina went as far as to declare the Tariff of 1 832 null and void within South Carolina. In addition, they said they would withdraw South Carolina out of the union if Washington attempted to collect the taxes forcefully. This would lead to President Andrew Jackson retaliating in just that way forcefully.